Factbox on Radomir Antic who was named as Barcelona coach on Friday:

1949: Born November 22, Zitiste, Yugoslavia.

* During a playing career that stretched between 1967 and 1984 he had spells at Sloboda Tuzla, Partizan Belgrade, Fenerbahce, Real Zaragoza and Luton Town.

* At Luton he was part of their promotion team and earned a place in club history when he kept them in the First Division in 1983 with an 84th minute goal at Manchester City after coming on as a substitute.

* Won five international caps for Yugoslavia before retiring in 1984.

1985: Began coaching career, taking charge of the youth team at Partizan.

1988: Returned to Spain to coach Real Zaragoza steering the Aragonese club to fifth and ninth place finishes in the First Division before leaving when financial problems hit the club.

1991: After a brief spell out of work he replaced Alfredo Di Stefano as coach of Real Madrid and steered them to a third place finish in the league. Sacked during the 1991-1992 season while Real were leading the First Division

1992: Appointed coach of Real Oviedo, enjoying three successful seasons at the Asturian club.

1995: Named coach at Atletico Madrid and guided the side to the league and cup double in his first season in charge.

1998: Replaced by Italian coach Arrigo Sacchi after two lean seasons at Atletico. Turned down offer of Yugoslav national team coach.

1999: March, returned to take charge at Atletico, helping to guide them to the final of the King's Cup. Sacked at the end of the season and replaced by Italian coach Claudio Ranieri, who had led Valencia to a 3-0 win over Atletico in the Cup final.

2000: March, returned for third spell at Atletico after resignation of Ranieri, but failed to prevent his side's relegation to the Second Division and was sacked at the end of the season.

2000: June, began second spell in charge of Real Oviedo, but had a troubled season following signing of controversial English striker Stan Collymore from Bradford City and his public criticisms of the quality of his squad.

2001: July, agreed to end his contract with Oviedo after their relegation to the Second Division. Linked with a number of coaching jobs but none of them materialised, and spent most of the following season as an analyst for a Spanish radio station.

2003: Jan 31, signs a deal to take over from Luis van Gaal as coach of Barcelona until the end of the season.